Understanding local damp in a garden flat

Level 2 Building Survey, West Hampstead, London NW6

The brief

A purchaser required a condition assessment of a ground-floor flat in a period residential development. The survey considered the accessible structure, finishes, services and shared maintenance responsibilities.

Our work

The property was generally sound, with local moisture concerns around a reception-room chimney breast and partition. Salt contamination, a blocked flue, restricted underfloor ventilation and high external paving were among the factors requiring consideration. Historic ceiling marks also needed to be checked against the record of leaks from the accommodation above.

The outcome

We recommended targeted investigation and improvements to ventilation and external water management before reinstating decorative finishes. Electrical testing and repair of external joinery formed part of the wider action list. The report gave the buyer a practical sequence of enquiries and repairs, while avoiding a single unverified explanation for every damp mark.

Scope and limitations

• Visual, non-intrusive inspection of accessible areas only.
• No single cause of the damp marks was verified; targeted investigation was recommended.
• Electrical testing was recommended rather than undertaken.

The client is identified here by role only, and the exact address is not published.